Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

INTRODUCTION

THIS BOOK PROVIDES a biblical, practical understanding of the gift of prophecy and how it can build up today's Church and individ ual Christians. I will explore the scriptural background of prophecy as well as share personal observations, research, suggestions and firsthand accounts of my fifty-year participation in this charismatic work of the Spirit. I use the word charismatic advisedly, since it is a favorite word of the apostle Paul when describing spiritual gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The word in our day is again becoming standard in the vocabulary of church operation. Charismatic is a term for the whole Church, not only for a movement within the Church, just as it was in the days of the first century believers. In these days of spiritual renewal the charismatic dimen sion-the "grace gifts" of the Holy Spirit-help us receive and enjoy a new realization of God's presence among us. With today's emphasis on the importance of the miraculous, however, the possibility of prophecy is experiencing serious concern. The promise of prophecy in the Church was dramatically introduced by the apostle Peter in his unforgettable sermon in Acts 2. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, explained the dynamic happenings on the Day of Pen tecost by quoting the prophet Joel. The Jews frequently quoted these same verses with nostalgic longing for the coming messianic age. But Peter declared boldly that the wait was over, the day had arrived. "This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel," he said. The title of this book comes from the third line of his quotation: "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17, NKJV). These words hang like a great banner over the Church age, giving vision and purpose to our mission. The era of the prophetic people of God had been launched! God speaks to His people today in various ways; one of these is prophecy. A historic continuity links prophecy in Old Testament times, prophecy in the New Testament churches and prophetic ministry in contemporary 13.